Dark, spicy and oh so very French, Syrah is the wine world's answer to Vincent Cassel.

Please note for the purposes of this article, we are not talking about Australia's take on Syrah, the big, bold Shiraz; we are talking about the complex, layered, peppery expressions of Syrah. And the below are the top 10 most expensive listed on Wine-Searcher.

Now most of you will be thinking most expensive automatically means "stuff of dreams" but you may be in for a pleasant surprise. Nowhere on this list do we come close to the dizzying heights of Pinot Noir or Bordeaux, sure it's not chump change but it's not air castles either.

1. Sine Qua Non Cumulus Vineyard 'Next of Kyn', Central Coast

It's no surprise that the esoterically named Sine Qua Non is responsible for the most expensive Syrah on the Wine-Searcher database. SQN is Napa's answer to the Rhône Valley, it is also one of California's most lauded wineries thriving off its reputation for cult wines. What makes a winery "cult"? Well first you need great wine; the 2012 'Next of Kyn' scored 99 points with Robert Parker and an aggregated critic score of 95 points across all vintages. Secondly, there can't be too much of it; SQN is all about tiny allocations available only to the exclusive few lucky enough to have scored a place on their mailing list. The Next of Kyn is all of that and it tops the most expensive at $495, that being said it's nowhere near in the same league as Burgundy's DRC, whose top wine weighs in at $19,441. When it comes to rare, exclusive and very good, DRC makes SQN almost look like a bargain and as for the wines following suit, they're practically value for money.

2. Domaine Jamet Côte-Rôtie Côte Brune, Rhône

The Rhône is Syrah's spiritual homeland, so it's fitting that seven of these wines should come from the valley. Domaine Jamet lies in the village of Ampuis in the Côte-Rôtie, run as a family business by Jean-Paul and Corinne, along with son Loïc. The domaine has been going since 1976 and the family prides itself on operating the vineyard with minimum intervention. As old as the domaine itself, the Côte Brune is the only wine to come from a specific plot site. Naturally limited, the wine is 100 percent Syrah, spends 24 months in barrel and has the capacity to age for a very long time. The wine receives an aggregated critic score of 94 across all vintages and holds an average price of $419.

3. E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne, Rhône

This list would not be complete without an offering or two from Guigal. One of the Rhône's most celebrated producers, the winery is situated, again, near Ampuis and has been going since its foundation by Etienne Guigal in 1946. Renowned for its three flagship wines; La Mouline, La Turque and La Landonne, it's the latter in third spot. Both La Mouline and La Turque are Syrah-Viognier blends, so La Landonne, as the only straight Syrah, flies the flag for the trio. And it's a pretty good flag, with an aggregated critic score of 96 points and average price of $394.

4. Sine Qua Non Labels Syrah, California

SQN strikes again with the Labels Syrah, which is unsurprisingly a bit of a hit, one of the perks of high demand and very, very short supply. With an aggregated critic score of 90 points, Jeannie Cho Lee described the 2005 as being "filled with notes of sweet spices, figs and black fruits". And, at $358, it's more than $100 cheaper than the Next of Kyn.

5. Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley

Our last American hero is from Cayuse Vineyards in Washington, although the winery was still founded by a Frenchman. Christophe Baron's enthusiasm for the area stemmed from his realization that the stones the vineyards eventually came to be on were very similar in nature to the stones he had seen in Marlborough, New Zealand and, even more significantly, in southern France. And he wasn't wrong; the stones in the Walla Walla Valley have earned the moniker "Oregon's Châteuneuf-du-Pape". Just to clear up any confusion, the valley stretches through both Washington and Oregon. The ebullient sounding Bionic Frog hops into fifth place, and its particularly cheerful, non-threatening label belies the fact that this is actually a $326 bottle of wine. But with an aggregated score of 95 points, it is a very good one.

6. Guigal Ermitage Ex-Voto, Rhône

Another entry from Guigal, the Ex-Voto is only produced in top vintages, designed to truly reflect the Hermitage terroir. The name itself roughly translates as a "promise made to the gods" and if the gods are the critics, then they are fully on board, giving an aggregated score of 95 points. And to top it off, at $323, the price has climbed down a nice $70 since La Landonne.

7. Michel & Stephane Ogier Côte-Rôtie La Belle Helene, Rhône

Father and son team, Michel and Stéphane run the domain although Stéphane now fronts it. Stéphane brings his experience in Burgundy to his winemaking and the resulting wines are becoming increasingly sought after. The Cuvée Belle Helene is especially gaining in popularity as it routinely scores high with the critics; Jancis Robinson evocatively described the 1999 vintage as "a ballerina of a wine" and, yes, it is still drinking well now. With an aggregated critic score of 95 points, this rising star of a wine wears the $319 price tag lightly.

8. M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon, Rhône

Another 95 pointer from the Rhône Valley proving that, although this list is technically some of the most expensive wines on Wine-Searcher, they are also not bad value. Like Guigal, Chapoutier is synonymous with the valley, producing wines in both northern and southern Rhône. The estate has been going since 1808 and has built an extensive portfolio of wines, some with origins as far-reaching as Australia. However, Le Pavillon is from Hermitage in the Rhône Valley. Hermitage is to Syrah what Bordeaux is to Cabernet – it's natural home, and Le Pavillon proves the point. Most vintages seem to have the capacity to go on some 20-30 years, so parting with $316 might come slightly easier.

9. Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage, Rhône

Hermitage? Tick. 95 points? Tick. Expensive? Smaller tick. Being one of the larger producers in the Hermitage region, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave has built a formidable reputation. Arriving in the area after the annihilation caused by the pesky phylloxera louse, the Chave family set to work to make things right and work they did. The winery is now in the hands of Gérard Chave and his son, Jean-Louis. The Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage is the flagship red and consistently scores highly with critics. And at $316, we are coming to the end of our price scale; it's not dirt-cheap but the sheer caliber of the wines more than makes up for it.

10. M. Chapoutier Ermitage l'Ermite, Rhône

Finishing our list is one of M. Chapoutier's rising stars, l'Ermite. According to Wine-Searcher data, this wine has been steadily gaining in popularity, so its current price tag of $313 is likely the lowest it will ever be. Again, this wine has an aggregated critic score of 95 points, completing a pretty starry line-up. The above wines really do illustrate that if you're looking for great wine-making – as good as top Bordeaux or Burgundy – but without absolutely mental prices, then Syrah's not a bad way to go.